Kirksville's Kallie Holte named the 2012 Daily Express Girls Soccer Player of the Year

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By Josh Rizzo

Kirksville Daily Express - Kirksville, MO

By Josh Rizzo

Posted Jun. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 25, 2012 at 1:19 PM

By Josh Rizzo

Posted Jun. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 25, 2012 at 1:19 PM

KIRKSVILLE – Kirskville’s girls soccer program won a playoff game for the first time since 2006 this season, but sophomore Kallie Holte pointed to an April 17 game against Hannibal as the high point of the season.

The Lady Tigers had struggled against Hannibal in the past before Holte scored two goals to help Kirskville win 4-2. Holte’s scoring ability, she finished with 17 goals, coupled with tenacity on the field earned her the 2012 Daily Express Girls Soccer Player of the Year honor.

Kirksville coach Shawn Meintz said Holte is an aggressive player.

“She definitely contributed in terms of goals scored, but she also had the kind of team mentality and was a go-get ‘em type of player,” Meintz said. “She was willing to do whatever it takes to win the game.”

Kirksville finished 10-14-1, a three-game improvement over their 7-15-1 record in 2011. The Lady Tigers beat Marshall 5-0 in the first round of the district playoffs before falling to the eventual district champion Moberly in the semifinals, 8-1.

“We improved on our passing,” Holte said. “We didn’t always think about scoring, we were also focused on passing.”

Holte had four multi-goal games, but Meintz feels her scoring ability only tells part of the story.

“She matured as a player and the goals overshadowed some of the other things she did in terms of assists and making players around her better,” Meintz said. “She possesses some skills and talent we wish everyone could have.”

Holte is focused on improving for next season and is competing in a variety of different leagues. She plays seven-on-seven soccer in Jefferson City, for the Columbia Pride traveling team and three-on-three tournaments.

“When you play seven-on-seven or three-on-three, it’s a faster game and helps you become quicker,” Holte said. “You have to focus more on foot skills because the field is smaller. You don’t boot the ball down the field, there’s more of a focus on passing and foot skills.”

Holte leads a talented group of core players that hope to continue the progress made by the 2012 team. Fellow sophomores Bailey Guiles and Jordyn Allen and freshman Sarah Hooper and Emily Schwend will all return more determined.

“I think it [the 2012] season gave us a lot of confidence,” Holte said. “We beat records and it makes us want to beat more records.”